This Sprint-Mounted Espresso Maker Is Doubtless the Rarest Volkswagen Accent Ever

Dash-Mounted Coffee Maker

Choices on classic vehicles can actually elevate their worth, however not all of them are created equal. Whereas some might delve into the realm of mundane, like completely different shade mixtures or distinctive trim items that solely paint thickness gauge lovers would obsess over, others tread the trail of remarkable rarity and class. Take, for example, Honda’s analog navigation system from the Nineteen Eighties or Oldsmobile’s “Visible Info Middle,” a CRT touchscreen infotainment system that emerged a long time forward of its technological period.

But, there exists a class of uncommon choices that ventures into the peculiar, just like the enigmatic Hertella Auto Kaffeemachine—a dash-mounted espresso maker designed for the Volkswagen Beetle. Scant info persists about this distinctive accent, with a lone German brochure serving as one of many few artifacts on the internet. It’s so elusive that the one method to unearth extra particulars is to attach with somebody who has skilled it firsthand.

In my pursuit of coffee-infused data, I stumbled upon Dave Hord of Traditional Automotive Adventures by a Reddit put up. His quest for the Hertella Auto Kaffeemachine led him to Serbia, the place, after a failed try to persuade a vendor, he finally secured one for himself. The journey of this espresso contraption didn’t finish there; it traveled from Serbia to the U.S., solely to introduce extra mysteries upon arrival.

The machine, void of any discernible markings, left Hord grappling with questions on its voltage specs. Testing with a 6V battery revealed a glowing indicator lamp, however the elusive warmth left the espresso conundrum unresolved. The absence of an influence change solely added to the intrigue—plug it into the cigarette lighter, and it merely heats up. As for the espresso it brews, Hord’s hypothesis suggests it would resemble a tea-brewing course of, although the absence of directions leaves a lot to the creativeness.

Regardless of the potential shortcomings in espresso high quality, the Hertella Auto Kaffeemachine boasts ingenious options. Porcelain cups with magnetic discs may connect to the machine, and a simple bracket facilitated straightforward removing for cleansing. Nonetheless, it’s the rarity that units this accent aside, with Hord having encountered a mere six items in his three-year quest. So far as anybody is aware of, that could be the complete surviving inhabitants of those quirky espresso makers.

Although the Hertella Kaffeemachine might not have been the head of espresso perfection, it got here with a hefty price ticket in its heyday—roughly $136 adjusted for inflation. In the present day, these relics command costs as excessive as $900, making them a luxurious for the few who admire the eccentric appeal of a classic Bug with a dash-mounted espresso companion. So, whereas your Automobiles and Espresso companions would possibly query the standard of your bean water, they will’t deny the attract of the uncommon machine adorning your Bug’s dashboard.

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